Each month we highlight a Production Lot member through our Member Spotlights, which include a featured position on the Production Lot homepage and a Q&A to help the rest of our community get to know our Spotlight member better.
This month we’re highlighting Bill Hinkson!
Meet Bill Hinkson
Bill Hinkson is a motion designer and animator with 25+ years of experience making 2D and 3D visuals that are clean, clear, and fun to watch. Through Bill Hinkson Design, he creates sizzles, product demos, explainers, and all kinds of short-form content for brands and agencies.
Bill’s background runs through broadcast, games, and advertising. He brings a mix of technical chops and storytelling sense, is known for staying calm under pressure, being easy to work with, and consistently delivering work that looks great and solves the problem. In short: he helps clients tell better stories and looks sharp doing it.
Ready to learn more about Bill? Check out our Q&A with him below, and don’t be shy – Ask him a question in the comments!
Spotlight Q&A: Six Questions with Bill
What inspired you to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?
I’ve always been pulled toward that sweet spot where art meets technology. Video games were a big part of my childhood. I had every system under the sun. I started creating graphics in the 90s with a line based ray tracer - POVray. From there I was hooked. That mix of tech and creativity made visual media feel like the place I belonged.
What is something about your role you'd like people to know more about?
People often see the finished animation but not the dozen hats I wear to get it there. My work spans concept development, storyboarding, 3D and 2D animation, editing and even project management. I lean heavily on fundamentals: composition, typography, motion principles, storytelling, and problem-solving. I also spend considerable time understanding a client’s objectives, forging partnerships with international subcontractors and artists, and managing projects so that the final deliverable captures attention and makes an impact.
If you weren't in your current role, what other industry job would you like to have?
I would move toward roles that push the boundaries of interactive storytelling. My first job involved designing and animating characters for videogames, so I’ve always been fascinated by game design and immersive media. Creative direction for interactive experiences or gaming might be a fun venture.
What advice do you have for people just starting out in the industry?
Start with the fundamentals: design, photography and composition, editing, animation principles, and storytelling. Those skills outlast every software update. Then keep sharpening your technical toolkit; Cinema 4D, the Adobe suite, and the wave of new AI tools like Runway and Veo3 that are becoming a regular part of my workflow. Don’t underestimate relationships. Collaborating with other creatives expanded my capabilities and, honestly, most opportunities come from people who trust you. Most importantly: stay curious. This industry evolves fast, and embracing new tools is the best way to keep your work fresh and relevant.
How would you like to advance your career in the industry?
I’m leaning deeper into emerging tech: AI, real-time rendering, Unreal Engine, anything that pushes storytelling forward. I also see myself taking on more creative-director roles, leading teams, shaping bigger visual narratives, and mentoring up-and-coming artists. I’m continuing to build out the reach of my studio through the partnerships I’ve been growing over the years.
What is your favorite production or project you've worked on?
One of the most fun projects was creating the opening animations for American Pickers: Best Of on Discovery. I got to build the visual language from scratch—original 2D and 3D character animation, conceptual design, and all the quirky personality the show is known for. It combined a lot of the skills I’ve honed over the years, and the team gave me room to play. But honestly, I’ve been lucky. I’ve had a lot of projects that were a blast to make, so picking a single favorite is tough.
Want a chance to be featured as a future Member Spotlight? It’s easy. Register for a Production Lot account, complete your member profile, then start engaging with the community!
